The Tata Memorial Hospital has cautioned people to not believe in misinformation after former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu said how natural methods like avoiding sugar and having neem and turmeric treated his wife’s cancer. As many as 262 oncologists from the hospital have come out with a statement in the public interest and urged people not to follow “unproven” remedies.
The hospital said Sidhu’s statements have no high-quality evidence to support them. “A video of a former cricketer describing his wife’s treatment for her breast cancer has been circulating widely on social media. Parts of the video imply that “starving the cancer by not eating dairy products and sugar,” consuming haldi (turmeric), and neem helped cure her “incurable” cancer. While research is ongoing for some of these products, there is no clinical data currently to recommend their use as anti-cancer agents.”
Much needed statement issued by @TataMemorial . This should clear any misconception that cancer patients or caregivers may have after recent viral video about use of diet and other methods to achieve so called ” CURE ” for the advanced cancer . Let’s avoid such… pic.twitter.com/SOeX0pzk5U
— Dr Amol Akhade (@SuyogCancer) November 23, 2024
Doctors urged people not to delay their treatment by following unproven remedies, but rather to consult a doctor, preferably a cancer specialist, if they have any symptoms of cancer. “Cancer is curable if detected early, and proven treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy,” the hospital statement read.
Director of Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr C S Pramesh, shared a video of Sidhu where he talked about the cure and cautioned people to not get “fooled” by such statements. “Please don’t believe and get fooled by these statements regardless of who it comes from. These are unscientific and baseless recommendations. She got surgery and chemotherapy that were evidence based which is what made her cancer-free. Not the haldi, neem etc,” he wrote on X.
PSA: Please don’t believe and get fooled by these statements regardless of who it comes from. These are unscientific and baseless recommendations. She got surgery and chemotherapy that were evidence based which is what made her 🤞cancer-free. Not the haldi, neem etc pic.twitter.com/7gDgN1TzZ8
— Pramesh CS (@cspramesh) November 22, 2024
Sidhu earlier this week claimed his wife Navjot Kaur followed a disciplined lifestyle during her cancer recovery. Her routine included lemon water, raw turmeric, apple cider vinegar, neem leaves, and tulsi. She consumed juices made from pumpkin, pomegranate, amla, beetroot, and walnuts, along with sour fruits. He said the food was cooked using coconut oil, cold-pressed oils, or almond oil. Her morning tea was infused with cinnamon, cloves, jaggery, and cardamom.
